Ampati, Aug. 5: Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma today said the state government has envisaged an initiative to promote agriculture and horticulture products by setting up scientific cold storage centres across the state.
"This centres will be linked to farmers and entrepreneurs," he said.
Highlighting that agriculture and horticulture products will open up market prospects, he said, "We are encouraging farmers to set up processing units by providing assistance, so that we can demonstrate the success stories," he added.
Assuring necessary support and market linkage to attract buyers and investors, the chief minister said, "Once we produce enough products, we will brand and market them globally."
To promote and encourage farmers, seven beneficiaries were selected in South West Garo Hills by the horticulture department for assistance to set up collection-cum-production centres for spices.
Sangma inaugurated one such centre at Borolatri village under Betasing block in South West Garo Hills today. The unit is currently processing turmeric. He directed the department to handhold the unit to ensure quality and hygienic production.
"The processing unit should act as a game changer to reverse the trend, so that people from rural areas do not migrate seeking better opportunities to cities," he said.
Citing example of the Bangladesh agriculture sector, he asked the people to be more innovative in their approach. "We have to have a synergistic approach to farming and entrepreneurship," he said.
Skill training : Sangma today mobilised the youths of South West Garo Hills to undergo training on masonry, weaving, tailoring and other vocational trades. He urged the youths to respect dignity of labour and take up such courses to enhance their livelihood. He told a gathering at Betasing that the government is setting up an apparel-manufacturing unit at Hatisil, near Ampati, which will open up opportunities for about 3,000 people.
Highlighting that the unit will provide ample job space, he urged the youths, especially women, to avail of the training. The state government has asked Keertika Academy from Calcutta to impart training on various trades in South West Garo Hills.
Keertika Academy is a vocational training provider recognised by the National Skill Development Council (NSDC) working under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).
Terming that masonry has a lot of scope for self-employment, he urged the youths to undergo skill training. "Works related to building infrastructure is coming up in a big way in Meghalaya. Our trained youths can be engaged in the construction as we have a huge shortage of skilled labour," he said.
Pointing out the labour crisis, which has been a major hurdle for building infrastructure projects, he said, "Considering the gap in initiating the infrastructure projects, the government has launched the training for the benefit of the people."
Stressing the need to impart training beyond the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) and polytechnic institutions, he said, "The government's endeavour has been to reach out to the people at the village level to provide maximum benefits, as everybody will not have the luxury to move out of their villages to avail such training."
Avenue plantation : Sangma undertook avenue plantation of date palms along the road leading to the Circuit House, Tura, today.
This was one of the series of plantations being taken up by the chief minister in various parts of the state as part of the Mission Green initiative.
West Garo Hills deputy commissioner Pravin Bakshi, local leaders, senior citizens, officials of the horticulture and agriculture department and students participated in the plantation.
The chief minister while planting the trees instructed Bakshi to coordinate with green ambassadors selected from educational institutions of the district to adopt and look after the plantations.
He also laid emphasis on keeping the immediate vicinity of the plantations neat, clean and garbage-free by setting up a task force.
